by Heinrich Heine (1797 - 1856)
Translation Singable translation by Emma Lazarus (1849 - 1887)
Der Abend kommt gezogen
Language: German (Deutsch)
Der Abend kommt gezogen, Der Nebel bebeckt die See; Geheimnisvoll rauschen die Wogen, Da steigt es weiss in die Höh. Die Meerfrau steig aus den Wellen, Und setzt sich zu mir, am Strand; Die weissen Brüste quellen Hervor aus dem Schleiergewand. Sie drückt mich und sie presst mich Und tut mir fast ein Weh; - Du drückst ja viel zu fest mich, Du schöne Wasserfee! "Ich presse dich, in meinen Armen, Und drücke dich mit Gewalt; Ich will bei dir erwarmen, Der Abend ist so kalt." Der Mond schaut immer blasser Aus dämmriger Wolkenhöh; - Dein Auge wird trüber und nasser, Du schöne Wasserfee! "Es wird nicht trüber und nasser, Mein Aug ist nass und trüb, Weil, als ich stieg aus dem Wasser, Ein Tropfen im Auge blieb." Die Möwen schrillen kläglich, Es grollt und brandet die See; - Dein Herz pocht wild beweglich, Du schöne Wasserfee! "Mein Herz pocht wild beweglich, Es pocht beweglich wild, Weil ich dich liebe unsäglich, Du liebes Menschenbild!"
About the headline (FAQ)
Text Authorship:
- by Heinrich Heine (1797 - 1856), no title, appears in Buch der Lieder, in Die Heimkehr, no. 12 [author's text not yet checked against a primary source]
Musical settings (art songs, Lieder, mélodies, (etc.), choral pieces, and other vocal works set to this text), listed by composer (not necessarily exhaustive):
- by Reinhold Becker (1842 - 1924), "Die Fee. Romanze", op. 20 [sung text not yet checked]
- by Alphons Diepenbrock (1862 - 1921), "Der Abend kommt gezogen", op. 1 (Drie ballades) no. 3 (1884), published 1885 [ tenor and piano ] [sung text checked 1 time]
- by William Gardiner Hammond (1874 - 1945), "Lied der Wasserfee", published 1903-9, from Heine Songs, no. 9, also set in English [sung text not yet checked]
- by Hans Heinrich XIV, Graf Bolko von Hochberg (1843 - 1926), "Der Abend kommt gezogen", op. 39 (Drei Lieder von Heine) no. 3 [sung text not yet checked]
- by Jacques Hoffmann , "Der Abend kommt gezogen", op. 8 no. 1 [sung text not yet checked]
- by Franz Paul Lachner (1803 - 1890), "Die Meerjungfrau", op. 33, Heft 2 no. 1, from Sängerfahrt : sechzehn Lieder nach Gedichten von Heinrich Heine, no. 8 [sung text not yet checked]
- by Arnold Mendelssohn (1855 - 1933), "Der Abend kommt gezogen", 1878 [sung text not yet checked]
- by Johann Vesque von Püttlingen (1803 - 1883), "Die Meerfrau", published 1851, from Die Heimkehr : 88 Gedichte aus H. Heine's Reisebildern, no. 12 [sung text not yet checked]
- by Max Wilhelm Karl Vogrich (1852 - 1916), "Die Wasserfee", published 1890 [ voice and piano ], from Erstes Lieder-Album, no. 9, Leipzig, Hofmeister [sung text not yet checked]
- by Karl Weigl (1881 - 1949), "Der Abend kommt gezogen", 1906, from 10 Lieder von Heinrich Heine, no. 2, unpublished [sung text not yet checked]
- by Paul Widemann , "Die Wasserfee", op. 2 no. 2, published 1878 [ tenor and piano ], from In Majas Zauber : Drei Gedichte, no. 2, Leipzig, Breitkopf & Härtel [sung text not yet checked]
- by Gotthard Wöhler (1818 - 1888), "Der Abend kommt gezogen", op. 7 (An der See : Dichtungen von H. Heine, als Fantasiestücke), Heft 1 no. 1 [sung text not yet checked]
Settings in other languages, adaptations, or excerpts:
- Also set in English, a translation by Emma Lazarus (1849 - 1887) , appears in Poems and Ballads of Heinrich Heine ; composed by William Gardiner Hammond.
Other available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- FRE French (Français) (Pierre Mathé) , copyright © 2009, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- GRE Greek (Ελληνικά) [singable] (Christakis Poumbouris) , copyright © 2018, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- GRE Greek (Ελληνικά) [singable] (Christakis Poumbouris) , copyright © 2018, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]
This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 32
Word count: 161
Ballad of the mermaid
Language: English after the German (Deutsch)
The evening shades are falling, The sea-fog spreads with night. Mysterious waters are calling, There rises something white. The mermaid comes from the ocean, Beside me sitting down; Her white breast's breathing motion, I see through the gossamer gown. And she doth clasp and hold me, In passionate, painful way. Too close thou dost enfold me, Thou lovely water fay! "Within mine arms I hide thee, With all my strength enfold, I warm myself beside thee, The night is far too cold." Paler the moon is growing Through shadowy vapors gray. Thine eyes with tears are flowing, Thou lovely water fay! "With tears they are not flowing. As I from waves did rise, Forth from the ocean going, A drop fell in mine eyes." The sea-mews moan, entreating, What does the mad surf say? Thy heart is wildly beating, Thou lovely water fay! "My heart is beating sadly And wild as ever it can, Because I love thee madly, Thou lovely son of man."
Text Authorship:
- Singable translation by Emma Lazarus (1849 - 1887), appears in Poems and Ballads of Heinrich Heine [author's text checked 1 time against a primary source]
Based on:
- a text in German (Deutsch) by Heinrich Heine (1797 - 1856), no title, appears in Buch der Lieder, in Die Heimkehr, no. 12
Musical settings (art songs, Lieder, mélodies, (etc.), choral pieces, and other vocal works set to this text), listed by composer (not necessarily exhaustive):
- by William Gardiner Hammond (1874 - 1945), "Ballad of the mermaid", published 1903-9, from Heine Songs, no. 9, also set in German (Deutsch) [sung text not yet checked]
Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]
This text was added to the website: 2008-03-28
Line count: 32
Word count: 164